Improvement in upright-piano actions



W. T; WAITE.

UPRIGHT-PIANU ACTION.

I Io.1"73,3'7 '7. Patented Feb.8,1876.

UNITED STATES FATENT ()FFIOE.

WILLIAM T. WAITE, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGrNOB OF TWO-THIRDS HISRIGHT TO GEORGE H. .OGNOVEB AND JAMES F. OONOVER, ()F SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN UPRIGH T-PIANO ACTIONS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. I 73,377, datedFebruary 8, 1876; application filed I November 11, 1875.

To all whom'it may concern Be it known that I, WVILLIAM T. WAITE, ofKansas City, Jackson county, Missouri, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in the Actions of Upright Piano-Fortes, .of

which the following is a specification:

My invention relates to an improved repeating action for upright pianos.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is an elevation, showing thevarious parts of my action in their normal positions. Fig. 2 representsthe positions the operative parts assume when the hammer is about tostrike the wire, the jack being shown engaged with the knuckle-cushion,and the repeating-lever out of contact with the spur of said knuckle.Fig. 3 shows the positions the operative parts assume at the instant ofthe hammers recoil from the wire, the jack being disengaged from theknuckle-cushion, and the repeating-lever being in contact with the spurof said knuckle. Fig. 4 shows the hammer retract-ed far enough to allowthe jack to be re-engaged with the knuckle-cushion by the stress of thespring which couples said jack to the repeating-lever. Fig. 5 is avertical section through the buttblock and its accessories. Fig. 6 is avertical section through the toe of the jack. Of the above illustrationsFigs. 5 and 6 are drawn on an enlarged scale.

A represents a portion of the bed-plate of an upright-piano action. Brepresents a part of one of the keys, which latter is pivoted to thebed-plate at b, in the usual manner. 0 is the customary cushion or pad,upon which the key rests when in its normal position, as shown inFig. 1. The key B is furnished on the upper side of its inner end withcustomary adjustable Block D, for attachment, by pivot d, of thevertical connecting-rod E, common to upright pianos. The rod E iscoupled at e to a vertically-vibrating arm, F, that is pivoted at f to ahanger, G, which depends from a rail, H, which extends longitudinally ofthe action. The front or free end of arm F is provided with a cushion,I. Pivoted at or near the mid-length of arm F, as at j, is my repeating-lever J, whose upper end is protected with aleather or other elasticbearing, j. Located near the upper end of lever J is a projection, K,shod with pad k. Pivoted to the arm F at a point about midway betweenthe cushion I and bearing j, as at l, is a customary jack, L, whose toeL is slotted at l, in order that said toe may not come in contact withthe rod M, that carries the back-catch m. This rod is rigidly secured tothe arm F. n is the cushion of an adjustable stop, N, against which theupper surface of toe L impinges when the key B is operated, so as toforce the point of the jack from its engagement with the notch of thehammer-butt, and to enable the hammer to fall back, and, if desired, bereprojected by the repeating mechanism J j, as hereinafter explained.Secured to the upper side of the supporting-rail H is the butt-block Oof the hammer. Said block has pivoted to it at 0 the knuckle P, orhammer-butt, which carries the shaft R of the customary cushioned hammerr. Said knuckle has projecting from it a cushioned stop, S, whosecontact with the back-catch m prevents any recoil movement of thehammer. Fitted within the butt-block O is a plate-spring, U, which bearsagainst the heel p of the knuckle in such a manner as to force back theentire action to its normal position, and thereby obviate the necessityof applying a comparatively heavy load to the key B, as is usually done.Projecting from the knuckle P is a spur, V, which is adapted at theproper moment to come in contact with the upper or free end ofrepeating-lever J. W is the customary cushion in the hammer knuckle forthe jack L to operate on. X is a cushion for supporting the hammer R 1'when the key B is in its normal position. Y is a spring, which extendsfrom the repeating-lever J to the jack L.

The operation of my action is as follows: When in its normal position,the key B and hammer R 1' rest upon their respective cushions 0 and X,the jack L being engaged under the cushion W, and the stop S being outof contact with the back-catch m. As soon, now, as the outer end of keyB is depressed, the free end of vertically-vibrating arm F is elevatedaccordingly, and its attachments at once assume new positions withreference to each other. The moment this arm begins to lift, thejack L,by its engagement with the cushion W, causes the knuckle P to turn uponits pivot 0 until the hammer r strikes the wire T, at which time theextremity of the jack becomes liberated from the knuckle, in consequenceof the toe L striking the stop N. (See Fig. 3.) It is evident that, thehammer would at once fall back upon the cushion X, 'and that the key Bwould have to be completely depressed in order to strike a second blow,unless some provision were made whereby the performer could arrest thedescending hammer, and impel it forward again against the wire. Thisprovision consists of the repeating-lever J, spur V, andconnecting-spring Y, whose conjoint action is as follows: At the verymoment of contact of toe L with stop N the coupling medium Y acts todraw the free end of repeating-le\-'er J 'far enough forward to insurethe engagement of the cushion j with the spur V, so as to allow but thevery slightest retreat of the hammer. In this position of the parts theleast depression of the outer end of the key B will be snfficient toinsure there engagement of jack L under the cushion W, because thetension of the spring Y is sufficient to effect this re-engagement themoment the arm F drops far enough to free the toe L from stop N. (SeeFig. 4.) The hammer can now be struck against the wire with as muchforce as though the key had been allowed to drop completely down uponits cushion C, and without losing the time necessary for such adepression of the key.

The spring U, being located so near the center of motion of knuckle P,will readily restore the action to its normal position as soon as thekey is relieved from the pressure of the operators finger, so as toobviate the expense and annoyance attendant upon the use ofheavily-loaded keys, and give the action a light and elastic touch. v

I claim as my in vention 1. In combination with the vertically-vibratingarm F f I, actuated by the key B, substantially as described, therepeating-lever J j, jack L, knuckle P W V, and the spring Y, as and forthe purpose specified.

2. In combination with the butt-block O 0 and knuckle P p, I claim thebent spring U, all constructed and arranged for restoring the action toits normal position, substantially as described.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM '1. WAITE. Attest:

L. H. SHERWOOD, Gno. H. GoNovER.

